Washington D.C. April 15, 2010. Today, Bradley Birkenfeld, the whistleblower who exposed the $20 billion illegal UBS tax fraud scheme, filed a direct appeal to President Barack Obama and an official petition requesting clemency. The petition, which is now available online, calls on the president to immediately commute Mr. Birkenfeld’s 40-month prison sentence to time served. Mr. Birkenfeld is currently incarcerated in the Schuylkill County federal prison.

“When the government cannot stop offshore tax evasion, it is the honest American taxpayer who has to foot the bill. President Obama can change this. He can pardon Mr. Birkenfeld on tax day and send a message to the world that the U.S. is serious about cracking down on bank secrecy, encouraging whistleblowers and stopping tax fraud.”

In the letter to President Obama attorneys for Mr. Birkenfeld, Stephen M. Kohn, Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center and Dean Zerbe, former counsel for the Senate Finance Committee, stated:

“We appeal to you today, the day that honest Americans must pay their taxes, with the hope that you will help correct a severe injustice…Every day Mr. Birkenfeld remains in prison undermines trust in the tax system and is a step backward in the fight against corruption.”

The National Whistleblower Center has initiated an international letter writing campaign, asking that letters and emails in support of Mr. Birkenfeld be sent to President Obama and the Pardon Attorney.

Links:

Letter to President Obama Requesting Executive Clemency

Clemency Petition

International Letter Writing Campaign

Photo of Bradley Birkenfeld, courtesy of the National Whistleblowers Center

National Whistleblowers Center Refutes False Charges Made Against UBS Whistleblower

Washington, D.C. February 17, 2010. Today, the National Whistleblowers Center released evidence regarding the case of UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld, which demonstrates his heroic efforts to expose tax fraud. Attached to the fact sheet prepared by the NWC are scanned original documents related to the illegal UBS tax scandal.

“The record shows the Department of Justice’s decision to prosecute Mr. Birkenfeld is a farce to say the very least,” said Stephen M. Kohn, Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center and co-counsel for Mr. Birkenfeld.

The evidence includes the original internal e-mails Mr. Birkenfeld sent to his superiors raising concerns and his original internal whistleblower complaint. Also included are letters from U.S. government agencies, which acknowledge Mr. Birkenfeld’s disclosures as essential to the case against UBS. Link to evidence: http://www.whistleblowers.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1036

In spite of his documented efforts to report the fraud, stand up to his employers and work with government investigations, Mr. Birkenfeld is currently in federal prison. He is the only banker associated with the illegal UBS program to receive a prison sentence.

“Mr. Birkenfeld’s sentence sends a chilling message to any international banker who may be considering coming forward and bringing similar information to the government,” said Lindsey M. Williams, Director of Advocacy and Development at the National Whistleblowers Center.

The National Whistleblowers Center is asking members of the public to consider the facts, and TAKE ACTION by supporting the clemency campaign currently underway on behalf of Mr. Birkenfeld.

Washington, D.C. January 7, 2010. UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld will surrender to U.S. authorities and report to Schuylkill County Federal Correctional Institution in Minersville, Pennsylvania, at 2pm, Friday, January 8, 2010.

Prior to entering the penitentiary, at approximately 1:15 pm, Mr. Birkenfeld and his counsel will make brief public remarks.

Mr. Birkenfeld will commence serving a 40-month sentence as a direct result of blowing the whistle on one of the largest tax fraud schemes in U.S. history, which has resulted in UBS bank paying a $780 million dollar penalty to the United States, and over 14,000 “taxpayers” voluntarily disclosing their illegal offshore accounts. Despite the fact that Mr. Birkenfeld’s disclosures have resulted in a multi-billion dollar net-gain to American taxpayers, and have forced UBS bank to shut down a massive illegal offshore banking practice, Mr. Birkenfeld was sentenced to an unprecedented 40-months in prison.

Tragic Day for Whistleblowers and Worldwide Anti-Corruption EffortsTake Action!

Today at approximately 2:00 pm EST, UBS whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld reported to federal prison to begin a 40-month sentence. This miscarriage of justice will have the perverse effect of silencing whistleblowers who want to report tax fraud. In our entire history tracking whistleblower cases, this is the most abhorrent action ever taken against a whistleblower. Mr. Birkenfeld deserves to be commended for protecting the American people and yet he faces the loss of his liberty.

TAKE ACTION! Demand Attorney General Holder review Birkenfeld’s case!
The facts of the case are clear:
Mr. Birkenfeld repeatedly tried to correct the illegal UBS tax fraud scheme internally.
Mr. Birkenfeld resigned from UBS when they failed to correct the problem internally.
Mr. Birkenfeld voluntarily approached the U.S. government with his allegations.
Mr. Birkenfeld made full disclosures to the Department of Justice, Internal Revenue Service, Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.
Every UBS tax cheat that has been prosecuted has received probation, fines, and/or community service – NO jail time.
Mr. Birkenfeld is the ONLY person connected with UBS to receive a prison sentence.
TAKE ACTION! Tell Attorney General Holder that you want a high-level independent review of the Birkenfeld case!

Tax Notes has named Mr. Birkenfeld as their inaugural “Person of the Year” and the New York Daily News has asserted that Mr. Birkenfeld should be given a “statue on Wall Street, not a prison sentence.” With articles like these and stories on 60 Minutes, Democracy Now and Fox Business News, the public has begun to understand why Mr. Birkenfeld’s sentence is not only unjust – it is dangerous to American taxpayers and the worldwide efforts to stop corruption.

Now that the Government has decided to incarcerate Mr. Birkenfeld, the Justice Department might as well tell every American to open up a Swiss Bank Account and avoid paying taxes. What whistleblower will come forward after seeing Bradley Birkenfeld sent to prison?

TAKE ACTION! Show your support for Bradley Birkenfeld by sending him a copy of your letter!
We need your help NOW! Please send a letter to Attorney General Holder and President Obama demanding that corrective action be taken immediately. Then forward this action alert to as many people as possible and post it to your facebook, twitter, and other social networking sites. Together we can make it clear that this is unacceptable!

If you are outside of the United States please click here to Take Action.

Washington, D.C. December 31, 2009. Today the National Whistleblowers Center (NWC) has begun another push for an independent review of the tax fraud whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld’s case before he reports to jail on January 8, 2010.

Mr. Birkenfeld is an international banker who voluntarily came forward and blew the whistle exposing the biggest international tax fraud scheme in history. Despite the government’s acknowledgement that the UBS bank tax fraud scheme would have continued undetected without Mr. Birkenfeld’s voluntary disclosure, he was sentenced to 3 years and 4 months in prison for his actions.

The NWC is asking the public to send a letter to Attorney General Holder that calls for an immediate review of Mr. Birkenfeld’s case and warns that a jail term for Mr. Birkenfeld is “clearly not the way to encourage other whistleblowers to step forward.”

Please contact Lindsey Williams if you would like to arrange an interview with Mr. Birkenfeld and/or his attorneys.

Meta

GFS

This blog is about whistleblowers and the conditions and situations that happen in their lives to create their whistleblower status. This blog is intended to inform, share, and support whistleblowers and those who support them.